Combination table and bench



March 18, 1958 J. E. GARLAND 2,827,107

COMBINATION TABLE AND BENCH Filed March 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. i

2% INVENTOR March 18, 1958 J. E. GARLAND 2,327,107

COMBINATION TABLE AND BENCH Filed March 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

INVENTOR United States Patent Bali This invention related to new and useful improvements in articles of furniture and the primary object of the present invention is toprovide afcombination table and bench having novel and improved features over that disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 421,913, filed April 8, 1954, noW Patent No. 2,711,208, granted June 21, 1955.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a combination table and bench particularly adapted for use in schoolsand which table and bench is so designed as to be conyeniently and comfortably employed by children of various siz'es aswell as'adults.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a combination table and bench including an upper structure ,that forms the table top and seat 'portiontand which upper structure may be selectively retained in a seat forming or table topforrning position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combined table top andseat structure of the aforementioned character embodying novel and improved means for locking the upper structure in either a seat forming or table forming position.

A still further aim of thepresent inventionis to provide a combined table and seat structure that is so designed as to afford maximum stability while arranged in either a table or seat forming position and which structure also offers vthe maximum seating comfort'for a plurality of children.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reading of the subjoined description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention assembled as a table structure;

Figure 2 is a perspectiveview of thepresent invention assembled as a bench structure;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view taken substantially on the planeof section line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 44 of Figure '2; and

Figure 5 is a view similar toFigure-i but showing the locking mechanism in modified form.

Referring now to .the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the numeral represents the base or lower structure generally, and, thenumeral 12 represents the upper structure generally.

The base structure 14 is composed of a pair of vertically disposed end members 14 and 16 that are connected together by a horizontally disposed center beam 18. The ends of the beam 18 are preferably suitably secured within sockets or holding wells 20 and 22 integrally formed with the opposing inner faces of the end members 14 and 16.

End members 14 and 16 are preferably formed of metal and are substantially inverted T-shaped in configuration to include bearing feet 24, 26 and 28, 30. The feet 24 and 26 of the end member 14 project an equal distance from opposite sides of the vertical axis, of the member 1a and the feet 28 and 30 of member 16 project as equal distance from opposite sides of theyertical axis of the member 16, it being understood thatsmembers 14 and are identical in construction andsize.

The upper end portions of the end members 14 and 16 terminate in cylindrical portions 32 and 34, having inwardly facing peripheral rims 36 .and 38,, and central hub portions 49 for a purposewhich w'illlate'rbe .described in detail.

Upper structure 12 is actuallya table top .46 andseat panel 4 which are joined at a slightly obtuse angle. A pair of upper end members 43 and Share fixed to the ends of the panel 44.

The outer free end portions of the upper endmembers 48 and 5t; terminate in cylindrical portions 52 and 154 having peripheral rims on flanges 56-and- 58. The portions 52 and 54 are also provided with integral hub portions 62 that abut the hub portions 49 of the previously referred to cylindrical portions 32 and 34.

The abutting portions as and 62- are centrally horizontally apertured to accommodate pivot bolts'64. .In this manner tr e upper structure 12 is pivotally secured to the base structure to while horizontal shifting of the upper structure relative to the lower structure is prevented due to hub portions 46 abutting hub portionsgfi2 and further by rims 36 and 3S engaging rims 56.and,58.

Means is provided for locking the upper structure; 12 relative to the lower structure it} so that the entire article may be employed as a table as shown in Figure l,'or as a bench as shown in Figure 2. This locking means comprises a horizontally disposed rotatable, locking shaft 6? having its end portions rotatably positioned in horizontal apertures iii in the end members 14 and 16b:- low the cylindrical portions 32-and 34. The end portions of the locking shaft 68 are provided with multisi led recesses 72 to accommodate a key or tool'for rotating the shaft.

Substantially Sshaped locking dogs74 are pivotally secured by pivots vs at one of theirends'to the end members 1d and 16. The ends of the dogs 74 remote from the pivots 7 6 terminate in vertical portions 78 whose lower reduced ends 8 pass vertically downwardly through guide sleeves 82 suitably fixed to or formedwith the end members 14- and 1-5. The lower, reduced ends 34 are threaed to receive nuts 34 that limit upward movement of the end portions 78. Coilsprings or resilient members 86 are biased between the shouldered parts 3:; of the portions 73 and the sleeves82toyieldingly urge the portions 73 upwardly against therims 56 and 53 of upper end members 52 and 54.

Cams or eccentrics 9t) are suitably fixed to the end portions of shaft and ride against the concavensurfaces 92 of the locking dogs 74 as the shaft .63 is rotated by the proper tool placed in one ofzthe recesses 72 at the ends of shaft ea.

The rims 55 and are provided with peripherally space recesses or detents 92 and 94, the recessesz92 being so located as to receive the upper endsof thceportions 73 when the structure 12 is rotated to form a table (Figure 1), and the recesses 94 are so located as to receive the upper ends of the portions 78 when the upper structure is rotated to form a bench in conjunction with the base structure (Figure 2).

Figure 5 illustrates the locking mechanism in slightly modified form wherein the locking dogs 7442 are pivoted to the end members 14 and 16 and overlie cams or eccentrics a fixed to the ends of shaft 681:.

inches for adults.

Suitably fixed to the ends of shaft 68a are radially disposed arms 91a that are suitably connected to the upper ends of coil springs '93. The lower ends of the springs 93. are suitably secured ,to the end members 14 and 16 and yieldingly urge the lobes of the cams 90a against the dogs 74a. The shaft 63a may be manually rotated against action of the springs 93 so-that the dogs 74a may gravitate out of locking engagement with the upper end members of the upper'structure.

It is observed that the present invention comprises a structure wherein the panel 44 will be disposed below the pivots 64 when the device is arranged to form a bench inasmuch as this arrangement afiords maximum stability. Also, thepressure or bearing feet 24, 26, 2S and 30 are disposed equidistant from the vertical axis of their associated end members which axis the pivots 64 intersect to promote increased stability.

The top 46 must be from 28 to 31 inches in height for proper seating thereto; The panel 44 when disposed as a seat portion must be disposed between the of 14 inches for smaller grade children to 18 This height allows the feet to rest comfortably on the floor, yet allows the weight of the body to press directly down on the chair through'the buttock rather than through the upper legs.

The tabletop 46 should be between 29and 32 inches in width for proper use of the article of furniture as a table aswell as a bench.

It is observed that seat forming panel '44 may be positioned with respect to the pivots 64- at the time of construction without disturbing the remainder of the structure disclosed. However, since the pivots 64 will be V bers' of said base structure, coaxialhorizonta1 pivots connecting the end members of the upper structure to the end members of the base structure and means interconnecting the base and upper structures for locking the table top in either a horizontal or a vertically inclined position, said locking means comprising a pair of spring urged locking dogs movable into and out of engagement abut the end members 14 and 16 inwardly of the feet 26 and 30 to further add to the stability of the combination table and bench when the same is arranged in its bench forming position.

' Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: V

1. A combination bench and table comprising a base structure including a pair of spaced parallel interconnected vertically disposed end members each having a pair 'of'bearing feet, an upper structure including a pair a of relatively inclined panels fixed together and defining respectively a table top and a seat portion, a pair of upper end member's fixed to the table top of said upper structure. and having end portions overlapping the end members of said base structure,-coaxial horizontal pivpair of bearing feet, an upper structure including a pair "of relatively inclined panels fixed together and defining respectively a table top-anda seat portion a pair of upper end member fixed to the table top of said upperfstructure'and having end portions-overlapping the end mem- With said upper end members, and manually actuatable r cams engageable with said dogs to move the latter out respectively a table top and a seat portion, a pair of upper end members fixed to the table top of. saidzupper structure and having end portions overlapping the end members of said basestructure, coaxial horizontal pivots a connecting the end members .of.the upper structure to the end members of the base structure and means interconnecting the baseand upper structures for locking the table top' in either a horizontal or a ,vertically'inclined position, said'locking' means comprising a pair of 7 spring urged locking dogs carried'by the base structure end members andmovable into and out of engagement with said upper endrrnembers, a horizontally disposedshaft rotatably supported by said base structure end members, cams fixed to'said shaft and engageable with said dogs to urge the latter out of engagement with said upper end members. a

4. A combination bench and table comprising a base 7 structure includingapair of spaced parallel vertically disposed end members, each of said end members having a pair of bearing feet, an upper structure including a pair of relatively inclined panels trigidly secured together and defining respectively'a table top and a seat portion, said table top having an undersurface and said seat portion having an upper seating surface, a pair of upper end members rigidly, secured to the underside of said table top, said upper end members overlapping the ots connecting the end members of the upper structure 7 to. thet'end members of'the base'structure and means interconnecting the base and upperstructures for locking seating surface. 3 t

end members of said base structure, coaxial horizontal pivots connecting said upper end members to theend members of said base structure, said pivots lying with in the angle defined by the upperseating surface of said seat portion and the underside of said table top, whereby said seat portion, when in athorizontal seat forming position, is disposed below theaxis of said horizontal piv ots, and cooperating latch. means on said end mernbers of said base structure and said upper end members in-' terconnecting the base and upper structures forilocking or a bench forming position. p I i 5. The combination bench and table of'claim14 wherein said table top and said 'said upper structure in either a table forming position,

v References Cited in the file of this patent UNITE D STATES PATENTS I 383,231 Marr 'May, 22, 1888 415,374 Wollheim e ;'N o'v. 19, 1889 2,141,094 Rohrmann Dec. 20, 1938 seat portion define the complete a Barber Aug. 1 6, 1887 Collin- June 2 7, '1950 o 

